I cherish every time I am with naturalists scientists avid outdoors people in the field with every kind of reference you can imagine, adults in glee with inner child wonder, puzzled with what they see and hear, sharing ideas and observations. I look forward to more of your posts! I am not as near nor do I have as much free time as I’d like to venture outside with friends. Thank you for this. Btw mergansers another of my favorite birds.
Those pictures are wonderful, especially the merganser flying by that ancient tree and the cliffs! Nature continues to adapt to their particular environments and I love how you notice the differences between references and your own observations.
"I love how you notice the differences between references and your own observations."
When you grow up surrounded by scientists, hang with them as a kid, invisible to them during many of their impassioned or merely collegial conversations with one another, when you see how dorky they can be, how challenged by balancing a checkbook or picking out the perfect, heartfelt gift for someone, or begin to understand that smart as they are, they still can't figure out how to change the oil in their lawnmower or balance their checkbook, well, then you tend not to be too much in awe of their professional announcements and publications. Science is continually smacking itself on the forehead and going, "Doh!" It is constantly updating its beliefs by adding to its findings, by learning more, seeing anew, encountering the exception to what they had wanted to believe was the rule. Just because 'It is written,' doesn't mean that it can't and won't be rewritten. This is fundamental to science, to actually learning and expanding our understanding, "noticing the differences" between what has been written and what one is observing in real time.
I'm so grateful for your most thoughtful note, Terry.
Nature is fascinating and life, miraculous, and we are blessed to learn of the miracles and fascinations from this garden of your imagination, David. I hope that you uncover the mysteries of your goosanders to share with us 💛
What a beautiful scenario you have laid out for us. I especially loved the image of the nestlings in the cliffside and needing to ride their mothers' backs down to the water. I hope you get to see more of this.
I appreciate how you give us photos and information and weave it through with your personal observations. We had Wood Ducks where I lived in Massachusetts. I had an old cranberry bog below my house, and watching the ducks through the seasons was a pleasure. A couple got caught in my chimney and I carried them back outside, and eventually learned I needed to put a cap on my chimney. Red-winged blackbirds would nest in the bog in a grid pattern staying just far enough away from the next nests by some inner GPS that I didn't understand. Then we had a big hurricane, and it must have disrupted their flyway, because they never nested there again. I moved away in 2010, and I miss the birds.
Lord, what I'd give to be a baby Common Merganser...
I cherish every time I am with naturalists scientists avid outdoors people in the field with every kind of reference you can imagine, adults in glee with inner child wonder, puzzled with what they see and hear, sharing ideas and observations. I look forward to more of your posts! I am not as near nor do I have as much free time as I’d like to venture outside with friends. Thank you for this. Btw mergansers another of my favorite birds.
Such a joyous and generous note, Kim. Thank you. I hope we meet here often.
Those pictures are wonderful, especially the merganser flying by that ancient tree and the cliffs! Nature continues to adapt to their particular environments and I love how you notice the differences between references and your own observations.
"I love how you notice the differences between references and your own observations."
When you grow up surrounded by scientists, hang with them as a kid, invisible to them during many of their impassioned or merely collegial conversations with one another, when you see how dorky they can be, how challenged by balancing a checkbook or picking out the perfect, heartfelt gift for someone, or begin to understand that smart as they are, they still can't figure out how to change the oil in their lawnmower or balance their checkbook, well, then you tend not to be too much in awe of their professional announcements and publications. Science is continually smacking itself on the forehead and going, "Doh!" It is constantly updating its beliefs by adding to its findings, by learning more, seeing anew, encountering the exception to what they had wanted to believe was the rule. Just because 'It is written,' doesn't mean that it can't and won't be rewritten. This is fundamental to science, to actually learning and expanding our understanding, "noticing the differences" between what has been written and what one is observing in real time.
I'm so grateful for your most thoughtful note, Terry.
Well this is fun, life isn’t always as it seems. We could go a long way with that!
Loved the story🤗
" life isn’t always as it seems. We could go a long way with that!"
Amen! Thank you, my friend.
Lordy, what an interesting puzzle you have the good fortune and patience to investigate!
I didn't go looking for trouble. It just has this way of finding me...
Nature is fascinating and life, miraculous, and we are blessed to learn of the miracles and fascinations from this garden of your imagination, David. I hope that you uncover the mysteries of your goosanders to share with us 💛
Me too, Emily. Thanks for such a kind wish.
What a beautiful scenario you have laid out for us. I especially loved the image of the nestlings in the cliffside and needing to ride their mothers' backs down to the water. I hope you get to see more of this.
Mare, thank you for offering such hope. If I learn more I promise to share.
I appreciate how you give us photos and information and weave it through with your personal observations. We had Wood Ducks where I lived in Massachusetts. I had an old cranberry bog below my house, and watching the ducks through the seasons was a pleasure. A couple got caught in my chimney and I carried them back outside, and eventually learned I needed to put a cap on my chimney. Red-winged blackbirds would nest in the bog in a grid pattern staying just far enough away from the next nests by some inner GPS that I didn't understand. Then we had a big hurricane, and it must have disrupted their flyway, because they never nested there again. I moved away in 2010, and I miss the birds.
This is wonderful, Mare. Love these sorts of glimpses.